Rabies Alert!
A rabid raccoon was found acting aggressively on Thursday, October 31 near John Paulding School, 154 Broadway in Tarrytown. The raccoon, which was also seen near the Warner Library and Patriots Park, has tested positive for rabies.The County Health Department is alerting residents to call as soon as possible if they or a family member have had contact with a raccoon, so they can be evaluated for preventive rabies treatment. Residents can call the Health Department at (914) 813-5000, 24-hours a day.
Employment Opportunities at Westchester County Department of Health
Our Health Department team is rapidly expanding and we are looking to hire public health professionals in various fields. View our open jobs and apply today.
Free Home COVID-19 Tests
Residents can once again order free at-home COVID-19 tests from the federal government to have on hand ahead of the upcoming respiratory virus season. Every household is eligible to receive four tests, which will be shipped free by USPS. An accessible test option is also available for people with low vision, blindness, or limited manual dexterity. Testing can help you know if you have COVID-19 so you can decide what to do next, like getting treatment to reduce your risk of severe illness and taking steps to lower your chances of spreading the virus to others.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEE) is a rare but deadly virus spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Recently, a resident from Ulster County, NY died due to Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Here in Westchester County, no humans have contracted EEE, and no mosquito pools have tested positive for the virus. The Westchester County Health Department continues to monitor and test local mosquito populations for viruses such as EEE and West Nile Virus.
Only a few cases of EEE are reported in the United States each year. Although rare, EEE is very serious. Approximately 30% of people who contract EEE die, and many survivors have ongoing neurologic problems. Symptoms of EEE can include fever, headache, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, behavioral changes, and drowsiness. There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat EEE. You can reduce your risk of infection with EEE virus by preventing mosquito bites.
Required School Vaccines
It's not too late to book appointments with the Westchester County Department of Health for the free vaccines children need to attend and stay in school. New this year, the County Health Department has added an extra day each week at its clinic in Yonkers. Immunizations are available for any student that is eligible for the state’s Vaccines for Children program. To find out if your child qualifies and to make an appointment, call 914-995-5800. Health Department Vaccine clinic hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. as follows:
- Mondays at the White Plains clinic at 134 Court Street;
- Thursdays and Fridays in the Yonkers clinic at 20 South Broadway.
July 31, 2024 - Listeria Update: Boar's Head Provisions Co. Expands Recall of Ready-To-Eat Meat and Poultry Products Due to Possible Listeria Contamination
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is expanding its July 26, 2024 multi-state listeria outbreak of Boar's Head deli recalled meat products in connection to a multi-state outbreak that has resulted in deaths and sickened many. Approximately 7 million additional pounds of ready-to-eat meat and poultry products are being recalled.
-- View the recall notice for more information.
-- View the list of recalled items.
-- Listeria Outbreak Fact Sheet
Consumers who have the recalled products in their homes should not eat them and should discard them or return them to stores for a refund. You should also clean and sanitize your refrigerators and any surfaces that came in contact with the recalled products to prevent cross-contamination.
Listeria is especially harmful if you are pregnant, are aged 65 or older, or have a weakened immune system due to certain medical conditions or treatments. If you fall into one of these high risk categories, do not eat meats you get sliced at any deli counter, unless it is reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F or until steaming hot. Let it cool before you eat it. Listeria can grow on foods kept in the refrigerator, but it is easily killed by heating food to a high enough temperature.
If you've eaten a food that's been recalled because of a listeria outbreak, watch for signs or symptoms of illness. If you have a fever, muscle aches, nausea or diarrhea, contact your doctor. The same goes for illness after eating a potentially contaminated product, such as foods made with unpasteurized milk or poorly heated hot dogs or deli meats. If you have a high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, confusion or sensitivity to light, seek emergency care. These signs and symptoms can indicate bacterial meningitis, a life-threatening complication of a listeria infection. Learn more about Listeria and its prevention.
July 31, 2024: More Ground Cinnamon Products Added to FDA Public Health Alert Due to Presence of Elevated Levels of Lead
The FDA is advising consumers to throw away and not to buy the ground cinnamon products listed in the table, because samples of these products were found to contain elevated levels of lead. Based on the FDA’s assessment, prolonged exposure to these products may be unsafe and could contribute to elevated levels of lead in the blood. No illnesses or adverse events have been reported to date in association with these products.